maring



March l0, 1964 w. D. MARING INGoT .MOLD ExTRAcToR 3 Sheets-Sheet l FiledMarch 23, 1959 ATTORNEYS March l0, 1964 w. D. MARING 3,123,876

INGOT MOLD EXTRACTOR Filed MarOh 23, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.WALTER D. MARlNG ATTORNEYS March 10, 1964 w. D. MARING 3,123,876

INGOT MOLD EXTRACTOR Filed March 25, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 WALTER D. MAm NG ATTORNEYS IN V EN TOR.

United States Patent iitice 3,123,876 Patented Mar. 10, 1964 3,123,876INGT MLD EXTRACTR Waiter D. Mering, Shelby, Ind. Filed Mar. 23, 1959,Ser. No. 861,022 12 Claims. (Cl. 22-95) This invention relates to a newand improved machine or device for extracting a metal ingot or the likefrom a mold.

One object of the present invention is to provide a new and improvedingot mold extractor which is constructed so that the ingot is knockedloose from the mold by a blow from a heavy hammer which strikes the topof the ingot while the mold is being supported by the extractor.

A further object is to provide a new and improved device of theforegoing character in which one or more springs are employed to addconsiderable impetus to the downward movement of the hammer.

Another object is to provide such a new and improved ingot extractorwhich may easily be manipulated by an ordinary crane, the lifting forceof the crane being employed to operate the extractor.

It is a further object to provide a new and improved extractor of theforegoing character in which the lifting force of the crane is employedto raise the hammer and to compress the springs, and in which the hammeris released, after a predetermined amount of upward movement, fordownward movement under the force of the springs and the force ofgravity.

Another object is to provide such an extractor in which the liftingeffort of the crane is transferred to the mold after the hammer has beenreleased.

A further object is to provide such an extractor which is arranged in anew and improved manner so that the extractor may readily be connectedto and disconnected from the mold.

Still another object is to provide a new and improved extractor which isextremely effective and easy to manipulate, yet is remarkably low incost.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will appear fromthe following description, taken with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIGS. l, 2, and 3 are elevational section views of an ingot moldextractor to be described as an illustrative embodiment of theinvention, the extractor being shown in three different stages of itsoperating cycle in the three views.

FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 are elevational views corresponding to FIGS. 1, 2, and3, but taken at right angles thereto.

It will be seen that the drawings illustrate a device or machine 10adapted to remove or strip a mold 12 from the upper portion 14 of ametal ingot 16 or the like. The illustrated mold 12 is actually theremovable upper portion of a main or lower mold 18. The upper mold 12 iscommonly known as a hot top mold, and the upper portion 14 of the ingotis commonly known as the hot top.

It will be seen that the molds 12 and 18 have downwardly tapering innersurfaces and 22, so that the molds may be stripped upwardly from theingot 16. The hot top mold 12 is formed with a pair of laterallyprojecting lugs 24, so that the mold may be grasped and lifted. Liftinglugs 26 are also formed on the main mold 18.

Despite the tapering of the molds 12 and 1S, a great deal of force isrequired to extract or strip the molds from the ingot, if the extractingis done by the exertion of a steady force, as by a hydraulic press orthe like. The illustrated extractor 10 is arranged to separate the mold12 from the ingot hot top 14 by the shock of a sharp, heavy blow appliedto the top of the ingot while lifting force is being applied to the hottop mold. After the hot top mold 12 has been removed from the hot top14, the main mold 18 may be removed from the ingot 16 by an extractor ofthe same design and mechanism but of larger size. y

The illustrated extractor 10 is adapted to be operated and manipulatedby an ordinary crane or other similar hoist, which is not shown, exceptfor its lifting hook 28, shown in broken lines. The hook 28 is adaptedto be connected to a bar or member 30 which is formed into an eye orloop. It will be seen that the eye member 30 extends upwardly from afirst or upper frace 32, which may be fabricated from various steelmembers. To reduce the shock that may be caused when the extractor islifted abruptly by the crane, the eye member Si) is preferably connectedto the upper end of a bar or rod 34 which is slidable vertically to someextent, relative to the frame 32. A shock absorbing coil spring 36 iscompressed between a slide block 38, secured to the lower end of the bar34, and a stop block 411, mounted on the upper portion of the frame 32.The spring 36 is preloaded to a substantial extent. When the extractor10 is lifted, the spring 36 will be further compressed to some extent.Of course, the spring 36 is made strong enough to sustain the weight ofthe extractor and the load placed thereon during the operation of theextractor.

In order to provide for the lifting of the hot top mold 12, theextractor 11i is formed with a second frame 44, the first frame 32 beingmovable vertically relative to such second frame 44. The second frame 44may also be fabricated from various steel members or castings. It willbe seen that the second frame is disposed below the rst frame 32.

To grasp and lift the hot top mold 12, the second or lower frame 44 isfitted with a pair of depending arms 46 which are swingably mounted onthe frame 44 by means of pivots 48. The lower end of each arm 46 isprovided with a loop or eye member 50 which is adapted to move under oneof the lifting lugs 24 on the hot top mold 12.

It will be apparent from a comparison of FIGS. 4 and 5 that the arms 46are swingable inwardly and outwardly, into and out of lifting relationto the lugs 24. In FIG. 4, the arms are shown in their outwardly swungposition, while in FIGS. 5 and 6 they are shown swung inwardly toembrace the lugs 24. A mechanism 54 is mounted on the lower frame 44 toswing the lifting arms 46 inwardly and outwardly. It will be seen thatthe mechanism 54 comprises pairs of similar components, one component ofeach pair being disposed on each side of the frame 44 to operate one ofthe arms 46. Thus, an operating arm 56 is mounted on each side of theframe 44 to push the corresponding arm 46 outwardly. In the illustratedconstruction, each arm 56 is secured to a shaft 58 which is rotatablymounted on brackets 60 secured to the frame 44. A roller 62 ispreferably mounted on the outer end of the arm 56 to engage the arm 46.It will be apparent that each arm 46 has a curved upper portion 64 forengagement by the roller 62. When the arm 42 is fully swung outwardly,the operating arm 56 extends radially or at right angles to the upperportion 64 of the arm, so that the operating arm 56 is at a neutral ordead center position. This is clearly shown in FIG. 4. Thus, the weightof the arms 46 does not tend to change the positions of the operatingarms 56. To assist in retaining the operating arms 56 n this position,the upper portions 64 of the arms 46 are formed with shallow notches orgrooves 66 adapted to receive and detain the rollers 62.

The operating mechanism S4 comprises a linkage where- D by the operatingarms 56 are connected together for simultaneous movement. Thus, an arm68 is secured to each shaft S. An adjustable link 7b extends between thearm 68 and an arm 72 secured to a shaft 74. It will be seen that theshafts 74 are litted with meshing gears 78, so as to couple the shaftsfor simultaneous rotation in opposite directions.

In this case, the mechanism 54 is adapted to be operated by a lever 80which is secured to the right hand shaft 74. 'Ihe lever `80 may bepulled upwardly' by means of a cable 82, connected to the outer end ofthe lever. A pull may be exerted on the cable S2 by any suitable means,such as a winch or solenoid on the crane which is employed to lift theingot extractor 1t?. When the cable 82 is pulled upwardly, the operatingarms 56 are swung outwardly to the positions shown in FIG. 4. The arms56 push the lifting arms 46 outwardly, so that they -will be disengagedfrom the lifting lugs 24 on the hot top mold 12. The outward movement ofthe arms 56 is limited by the engagement of the right hand arm 72 withan adjustable stop 84 on the left hand arm 72. In an emergency, themechanism 54 may be operated by a hand lever 85, secured to the lefthand shaft '74.

As already indicated, the operating arms 56 are detained in theiroutwardly swung positions by the reception of the rollers 62 in thegrooves or notches 66. Additional means are provided to operate themechanism 54 so as to swing the operating arms inwardly. This isaccomplished in a highly advantageous manner by providing a bar 88 whichis adapted to strike the top of the hot top mold 12 when the ingotextractor 1t? is lowered. The engagement of the bar 88 with the mold 12arrests the downward movement of the bar. However, the lowering movementof the extractor is continued, so that there is relative movementbetween the bar 88 and the lower frame 44. This relative movement isemployed to operate the arms 56 so as to permit the lifting arms 46 t0swing inwardly by their own weight.

It will be apparent from FIG. l that the bar 88 extends in a horizontaldirection from the lower end of a rod 9). Brackets 92 are provided onthe lower frame 44 to guide the bar 90 for vertical movement relative tothe frame. Of course, the bar 911 tends to move downwardly by its ownWeight. Downward movement of the bar 99 is limited by a washer or othershoulder member 94- which is mounted on the upper end of the bar and isengageable with the top of the uppermost bracket 92. At its upper end,the bar 9&1 is fitted with an adjustable screw 96 which is engageablewith an arm g3 secured to the right hand shaft 74. When the bar 88strikes the top of the hot top mold 12, the screw 96 pushes the arm 9Supwardly and thus swings the right hand shaft 74 clockwise. Thisdisengages the rollers 62 from the grooves 66, whereupon the liftingarms 46 swing inwardly by their own weight, the eye members 56 embracingand engaging lugs 24.

To carry a portion of the initial load of bars 83 and 90, a coil spring169 is mounted around bar 911 between the brackets 92, a stop collar1412 being provided to determine the portion of the load carried by thespring 160.

As already indicated, the mold 12 is stripped from the ingot bydelivering a sharp blow against the top of the ingot. To deliver theblow, the ingot extractor 1@ is provided with a large, heavy hammer 196which is movable vertically relative to the upper and lower frames 32and 44. It will be seen that the hammer 106 is positioned below theupper frame 32 and within guide channels 107 on the lower frame 44.

The hammer 196 is also guided for vertical movement by a plurality' ofguide rods 1%. The illustrated construction employs four of the guiderods, although any suitable number may be utilized. It will be seen thatthe lower end of each rod 108 is secured to the hammer 166. The rods 10Sextend upwardly from the hammer through an apertured guide member 110 onthe upper end of the lower frame 44. The rods 1th? then extend upwardlythrough an apertured guide member 112 on the lower end of the upperframe 32. To limit downward movement of the rods 168, their upper endsare fitted with nuts 114 or the like. Short cushion springs 116 aremounted on the rods 103 above the upper guide member 112. These springs116 are slidable along the rods and are adapted to engage the nuts 114when the rods are moved downwardly to the maximum possible extent, asshown in FIG. 3. The springs 116 support the weight of the hammer 106when it is in its lowermost position relative to the frame 32.

Releasable means are provided on the upper frame 32 to lift the hammer106. In this case, the releasable means comprise a pair of dependingtongs 120 which are swingably mounted on the frame 32 by means of pivots122. The ltongs 120 are adapted to swing inwardly and outwardly in andout of engagement with the hammer 166.

The lower end of each of the tongs 120 is formed with an inwardlydirected hook `124- for lifting the hammer 106. In this case, each hook124 is movable by its own unbalanced weight under a roller 126 mountedon the hammer. The rollers are positioned in recesses 128 formed on theopposite sides of the hammer 166. The provision of the rollers 126`facilitates the disengagement of the tongs 12@ from the hammer 106.

As will be described in detail shortly the hammer 106 is dropped againstthe top of the ingot when the hammer is released by the tongs 12d. Ofcourse, the hammer is propeilled downwardly by its own weight. Toincrease the downward acceleration of the hammer 166, the illustratedextractor 10 is provided with one or more springs 132. ln theillustrated arrangement there are two of the springs 132, but it will berealized that a larger or a smaller number mayI be employed. Theillustrated springs 132 are received around two of the rods 108, betweenthe hammer 106 and the guide member 110 at the upper end of the lowerframe 44. The springs 413,2 are of the coil compression aype. In orderto increase the permissible length of the springs 132, sockets 134 areformed in the hammer 106 to receive the lower portions of the springs.

When the hammer 106 is lifted by the tongs 120, the springs 132 arecompressed between the hammer and the member 116, as clearly shown inFIG. 2. At this point in the cycle of operation, the lifting arms 46 arehooked onto the mold 12, so that the frame 44 `is kept from movingupwardly by the weight of the mold and the ingot.

Means are provided to release the tongs 12) from the hammer 166 afterthe hammer has been raised to a position just below the top member onthe frame 44. For this purpose, the illustrated tongs 121) are formedwith inwardly directed cams or projections 138, which are engageablewith rollers 140 mounted on the top member 110 of the frame 44. As thetongs 120 are raised beyond the position shown in FIG. 2, the rollers14@ push the projections 13S outwardly, and thereby disengage the lhooks124 from the rollers 126. The tongs 12) are thrown outwardly beyond thehammer 166 so that it is released for downward movement under the -forceof gravity and the force of the springs 132. The springs rapidlyaccelerate the hammer so that it strikes a hard blow against the top ofthe ingot 16.

Until the hammer 166 moves downwardly, the lower frame 44 is supportedby the springs 132. When the tongs are moved outwardly, they' hook ontothe frame 44 and exert upward force thereon. To achieve this, each ofthe tongs 12) is formed with an outer hook 144 adapted to move under ahook receiving bar 146 at the top of the frame 44. Each hook 144 swingsunder the corresponding bar 146 before the inner hook 124l is fullydisengaged from the hammer 166. The hooks 144 and the bars 146 areformed with complementary inclined surfaces 14S and 15d. As the rollers14@ push the cams 138 outwardly, the inclined surfaces 14S on the hooksmetallically engage the inclined surfaces 156 and slide outwardly andupwardly therealong. The inclination of the surfaces 148 and 150 holdsthe tongs outwardly after the hammer 106 has been released.

Summary of Operation It will now be of interest to trace the cycle ofoperation of the ingot extractor 10. FfIGS. 1, 2 and 3 illustrate threestages in The operation of the extractor. The same three stages are alsoshown in FIGS. 4, and 6, which are taken at right angles to FIGS. l, 2and 3. Actually, it will be convenient to begin the description of thecycle by referring to FIGS. 3 and 6, which show the linal stage in thecycle. In these views, the hammer or striking assembly 106 is in itslowermost position, relative to the upper frame or control assembly 32.The hammer 106 is suspended in this position by the rods 108, which inturn are suppor-ted by the cushion springs 1116. The lower fra-me ormain body nassembly 44 is suspended on the outer hooks 144 of the tongs120. It will be seen that the hot top mold 12 has been separated orstripped from the hot top 14 of the ingot 16. The hot top mold y12 ishanging from the lifting arms 46.

In order to prepare the mold extractor i for another extracting cycle,the hot top mold 12 is lifted clear of the ingot hot top 14 and islowered onto a `sto-rage stool, not shown. To release the arms 46 fromthe hot top mold 12, the cable 82 is pulled upwardly -by a winch,solenoid or other motion Iwork on the crane. This swings the lever 80and the right hand shaft 74 counterclockwise. The meshing gears 78 causethe left hand shaft 74 to 4rotate clockwise. The rotation of the shafts74 causes the arms 72 to swing inwardly toward each other. By virtue ofthe links 70 and the arms 68, the operating arms 56 are swung outwardly.The rollers 62 engage the arms 46 and push them outwardly, to theposition shown in FIG. 4. As the arms 56 reach their dead centerpositions, the rollers 62 enter the detaining grooves 66. The arms 56are thus retained in their outwardly swung positions so that theoperating mechanism twill not collapse under the 'weight of the liftingarms 46.

Next, the extractor 10 is lifted and moved by the crane over anothermold v12 which is to be stripped from its ingot 16. The extractor 10 islowered `so that the lower end of the hammer 106 engages the upper edgeof the hot top mold 12. Of course, the mold arrests the downwardmovement of the hammer 106. The extractor is lowered an additionalamount so as to move the frames 32 and 44 downwardly relative to thehammer 106. The purpose of this operation is to -re-engage the hammer106 with the tongs 120. The top of the hammer engages the lower ends ofthe tongs 12.0 and swings them outwardly so that they will passdownwardly along the hammer and swing under the rollers 1126. Bevelledor inclined surfaces 160 -are formed on the upper end of the hammer 106to swing the tongs `120 outwardly. The tongs swing inwardly by their own-weight when they move beneath the rollers 126.

The extractor 10 is then lifted slightly so that the hammer 106 willclear the top of the hot top mold 12. Next, the extractor isrepositioned slightly, so that the hammer 106 will be centered over thetop o-f the ingot 16. The extractor is lowered so that the loops 50 onthe lower ends of the arms 46 will be opposite the lifting lugs 24 onthe mold 12, as shown in FIGS. l and 4. Further lowering movement of theextractor will cause the trip bar '88 to strike the top of the mold 12.As the frame 444 moves downwardly, the assembly comprising the bars 88and `S90 pushes the arm 98 upwardly. This rotates the right hand shaft74 clockwise, so as to initiate downward swinging movement of theoperating arms 56. Once the rollers 62 are disengaged from the grooves66, the weight of the lifting aums 46 pushes the arms S6 downwardly, sothat the arms 46 swing inwardly under the lugs 24.

Next, the crane is operated so as to lift the hook 28 and the upperframe 32. This also raises the tongs 120,

6 which, in turn, raise the hammer 106 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5. Thesprings 132 are compressed yas the hammer 106 is raised. It will beunderstood tha-t the springs 132 push the lower frame 44 upwardly, butthe lower frame is prevented from moving upwardly because the liftingarms 46 are hooked onto the mold 12.

As the hammer approaches the top member 110 of the frame 44, the tongsare swung outwardly by the engagement of the cams =138 with the rollers140. This moves the hooks 124' out from under the rollers 126, whichalso throw the tongs outwardly as the hammer 106 starts its descent. Thehammer is accelerated downwardly by the `force of gravity, greatly`aided by the force of the springs 132. Thus, the hammer Istrikes anextremely hard blow against the top of the hot top portion 14 on theingot 16. The shock of the blow loosens the ingot from the hot top mold12.

During the critical period in which the tongs 120 swing outwardly andthus release the hammer 106, the outer hooks 144, move under the barsI146 on the frame 44, bringing the mating inclined surfaces |148 and 150into metallic engagement, so that the frame is caught and supported bythe tongs during and after the descent of the hammer. At this stage thecrane has the complete unit stressed up, through frame 32, tongs 120,second frame 44, and lifting arms 46, Iwhich `are attached to ears 24 ofmold 12. Thus, the hot top mold 12 is pulled upwardly as the cranerises. As shown in FIG. 3, the hot top mold 12 and the hammer 106 arelifted clear of the ingot hot top 14.

The extractor may readily be operated and manipulated with an ordinarycrane. No unusual lifting effort is imposed upon the crane. Theoperating cycle of the extractor :rnay be completed very quickly so thatthe extractor will be able to strip a great many molds in a minimumperiod of time. lIt will be yapparent that the extractor is rugged andeffective, yet is remarkably low in cost. The extractor may be made invarious sizes and types, to strip various types and sizes of molds yfrommetal ingots or the like.

I am well acquainted with the following U.S. patents relating to thegeneral field of ingot mold extractors:

Inventor- Patent No. Aiken 439,829 EAiken l 526,093 Wellman and McGeorge713,029 Taylor 792,630 Blount 800,712 Cheever 1 801,136 Gathmann1,059,668 Price 1,352,026 Geer 1,570,474 Camerota 1,774,082 Nielsen2,278,116 Hively 2,362,696 Urmetz 2,439,705 Leckrone 2,641,806 Petersonet al. i 2,820,264

Various other modifications, equivalents and alternative constructionsmay be employed 'without departing from the true spirit and scope of theinvention, as exempliied in the foregoing description and defined in thefollowing claims.

I claim:

1. In a device for extracting an ingot from a mold having lug engagingmeans thereon, the combination comprising a main frame, a hammerslidably mounted to said main frame to be raised and projected downwardupon an ingot, a hammer lifting frame slidably mounted to said mainframe for raising and releasing said hammer, said lifting frameincluding lifting tongs pivotally mounted to automatically engage andraise said hammer Within the confines of said main frame, means forlowering said device for initially engaging said hammer against anareas-7e ingot to urge said hammer partially upward into engagement withsaid tongs, compression springs mounted to said main frame andconfronting said hammer for biasing said hammer downward when raised bysaid lifting means relative to the main frame, arm means mounted to saidmain frame for anchoring said main frame relative to a mold when saidhammer is raised by said lifting means, means on said arms to releasablyengage said mold, cam means on said main frame automatically engagingand camming said tongs outward when said hammer reaches its raisedposition to release said hammer from said tongs whereby said hammer maybe projected downward against an ingot with its movement accelerated bysaid biasing action of said compression springs.

2. ln a device according to claim 1, wherein said lifting tongs includetapered outward and upward diverging finger portions, and said mainframe includes tapered edge portions whereby when said tongs are cammedoutward said finger portions will engage said tapered edges of said mainframe to suspend said main frame relative to the mold.

3. In a machine for extracting an ingot from a tapered mold of the typehaving laterally projecting lifting lugs thereon, the combinationcomprising a first frame adapted to be lifted by a lifting means, meanson said first frame for coupling with said lifting means, a second framehaving a pair of depending lifting arms pivotally mounted thereon andreceivable under the lifting lugs on the mold, said first frame beingrelatively movable vertically with respect t0 said second frame, meanson said second frame for swinging said arms inwardly and outwardly intoand out of engagement with the lifting lugs on the mold, a hammermovable vertically relative to said first and second frames, guide meansproviding for relative vertical movement of said rst frame, said secondframe and said hammer while preventing any substantial relative lateralmovement thereof, a pair of tongs pivoted on said first frame andreleasably engageable with said hammer for lifting said hammer inresponse to lifting movement of said first frame by the lifting means,spring means disposed between said hammer and said second frame andadapted to be compressed by upward movement of said hammer relative tosaid second frame, and means for releasing said tongs from said hammerafter predetermined upward movement of said first frame relative to saidsecond frame, said hammer thereby being released for downward movementunder the force of said spring means and the force of gravity, saidtongs having means movable therewith into supporting relation to saidsecond frame when said tongs are released from said hammer.

4. In a device for extracting an ingot from a mold, the combinationcomprising a first frame adapted to be lifted by a lifting means, asecond frame having releasable means thereon for grasping and liftingthe mold, said first frame being relatively movable vertically withrespect to said second frame, a hammer movable vertically relative tosaid first and second frames, guide means interconnecting said firstframe, said second frame and said hammer for relative vertical movement,spring means disposed between said second frame and said hammer andadapted to be stressed by upward movement of said hammer relative tosaid second frame, releasable means on said first frame for lifting saidhammer in response to lifting movement of said first frame by thelifting means, and means for releasing said last-mentioned releasablemeans from said hammer in response to a predetermined amount of upwardmovement of said first frame relative to said second frame, said hammerthereby being released for downward movement against the ingot under theforce of said spring means and the force of gravity.

5. In a device for extracting an ingot from a mold, the combinationcomprising a first frame adapted to be lifted by a lifting means, asecond frame having releasabic means thereon for grasping and liftingthe mold, a hammer movable vertically relative to said first and secondo en) frames, guide means interconnecting said first frame, said secondframe and said hammer for relative vertical movement, spring meansdisposed between said second frame and said hammer and adapted to becompressed by upward movement of said hammer relative to said secondframe, releasable means on said first frame for releasably grasping saidhammer to lift said hammer in response to lifting movement of said firstframe by the lifting means, and means for releasing said last-mentionedreleasable ieans from said hammer in response to a predetermined amountof upward movement of said first frame relative to said second frame,said hammer thereby being released for downward movement against theingot under the combined forces of gravity and said spring means.

6. in a machine for extracting an ingot from a tapered mold of the typehaving laterally projecting lifting lugs thereon, the combinationcomprising a first fra ie adapted to be lifted by a lifting means, meanson said first frame for coupling to said lifting means, a second framehaving a pair of depending lifting arms pivotally mounted thereon andreceivable under the lifting lugs on the mold, means on said secondframe for swinging said arms outwardly out of engagement with thelifting lugs on the mold, means operable by engagement with the mold forswinging said arms inwardly into engagement with the lugs, a hammermovable vertically relative to said first and second frames, guide meansproviding for relative vertical movement 0f said first frame, saidsecond frame and sait hammer while preventing any substantial relativelateral movement thereof, a pair of tongs pivoted on said first frameand releasably engageable with said hammer for lifting said hammer inresponse to lifting movement of said first frame by the lifting means,spring means disposed between said hammer and said second frame andadapted to be stressed by upward movement of said hammer relative tosaid second frame, and means for releasing said tongs from said hammerafter predetermined upward movement of said first frame relative to saidsecond frame, said hammer thereby being released for downward movementunder the force of said spring means and the force of gravity, saidtongs having means movable therewith into supporting relation to saidsecond frame when said tongs are released from said hammer.

7. In a machine for extracting an ingot from a tapered mold of the typehaving laterally projecting lifting lugs thereon, the combinationcomprising a first frame adapted to be lifted by a lifting means, meanson said first frame for coupling with said lifting means, a second framehaving a pair of depending lifting arms pivotally mounted thereon andreceivable under the lifting lugs on the mold, means on said secondframe for swinging said arms outwardly out of engagement with thelifting lugs on the mold, means operable by engagement with the mold forswinging said arms inwardly into engagement with the lugs, a hammermovable vertically relative to said first and second frames, guide meansproviding for relative vertical movement of said first frame, saidsecond frame and said hammer while preventing any substantial relativelateral movement thereof, a pair 0f catches movable on said rst frameand releasably engageable with said hammer for lifting said hammer inresponse to lifting movement of said first frame by the lifting means,spring means disposed between said hammer and said second frame andadapted to be stressed by upward movement of said hammer relative tosaid second frame, and means for releasing said catches from said hammerafter predetermined upward movement of said first frame relative to saidsecond frame, said hammer thereby being released for downward movementunder the force of said spring means and the force of gravity, saidcatches having means movable therewith into supporting relation to saidsecond frame when said catches are released from sait hammer.

8. in a device for extracting an ingot from a mold, ie combinationcompri 'ng a first frame adapted to be lifted by lifting means, a secondframe, movable vertically relative to the rst frame, releasable means onsaid second frame for grasping and lifting the mold, a hammer movablevertically relative to the first and second frames, guide meansinterconnecting said rst frame, second frame and hammer, spring means onsaid guide means between said second frame and hammer and adapted to bestressed upon upward movement of the hammer relative to the secondframe, releasable means on the rst frame engageable with the hammer forlifting said hammer relative to the second frame and compressing thespring means when the rst frame is lifted by said lifting means, meanson the second frame for releasing said releasable means in response to apredetermined amount of upward movement of said rst frame relative tothe second frame whereby said hammer is freed for downward movementagainst the ingot under force of said spring means and the force ofgravity.

9. The device described in claim 8 in which the second frame is belowthe rst frame and the hammer is below the second frame.

10. The device described in claim 8 in which the guide means comprisesrods on the hammer and extending up- 'in elevated postion when thehammer is released.

12. The device described in claim 8 in which the means for releasing thereleasable means comprises cam means on the second frame and camsurfaces on the releasable means engageable by said cam means.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS800,712 Blount Oct. 3, 1905 1,939,831 Scheible Dec. 19, 1933 2,171,141Dinzl Aug. 29, 1939 2,515,088 Holston July 11, 1950 2,537,788 Reed Ian.9, 1951 2,718,680 Drill Sept. 27, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 378,635 GermanyJuly 24, 1923

1. IN A DEVICE FOR EXTRACTING AN INGOT FROM A MOLD HAVING LUG ENGAGINGMEANS THEREON, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING A MAIN FRAME, A HAMMERSLIDABLY MOUNTED TO SAID MAIN FRAME TO BE RAISED AND PROJECTED DOWNWARDUPON AN INGOT, A HAMMER LIFTING FRAME SLIDABLY MOUNTED TO SAID MAINFRAME FOR RAISING AND RELEASING SAID HAMMER, SAID LIFTING FRAMEINCLUDING LIFTING TONGS PIVOTALLY MOUNTED TO AUTOMATICALLY ENGAGE ANDRAISE SAID HAMMER WITHIN THE CONFINES OF SAID MAIN FRAME, MEANS FORLOWERING SAID DEVICE FOR INITIALLY ENGAGING SAID HAMMER AGAINST AN INGOTTO URGE SAID HAMMER PARTIALLY UPWARD INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID TONGS,COMPRESSION SPRINGS MOUNTED TO SAID MAIN FRAME AND CONFRONTING SAIDHAMMER FOR BIASING SAID HAMMER DOWNWARD WHEN RAISED BY SAID LIFTINGMEANS RELATIVE TO THE MAIN FRAME, ARM MEANS MOUNTED TO SAID MAIN FRAMEFOR ANCHORING SAID MAIN FRAME RELATIVE TO A MOLD WHEN SAID HAMMER ISRAISED BY SAID LIFTING MEANS, MEANS ON SAID ARMS TO RELEASABLY ENGAGESAID MOLD, CAM MEANS ON SAID MAIN FRAME AUTOMATICALLY ENGAGING ANDCAMMING SAID TONGS OUTWARD WHEN SAID HAMMER REACHES ITS RAISED POSITIONTO RELEASE SAID HAMMER FROM SAID TONGS WHEREBY SAID HAMMER MAY BEPROJECTED DOWNWARD AGAINST AN INGOT WITH ITS MOVEMENT ACCELERATED BYSAID BIASING ACTION OF SAID COMPRESSION SPRINGS.